A type of diet pill that costs just £1 per day claims to help women lose weight . The drug could soon be available to buy in British pharmacies .

Alli, a diet drug, prevents the body from absorbing the fat in food. The European medical watchdog has given alli a seal of approval. Alli is a reduced-strength version of prescription diet drug Xenical. Alli is made by GlaxoSmithKline .

Alli does have side effects, including excess flatulence and diarrhoea . Furthermore, the drug can interfere with the absorption of vitamins and other supplements. US Glaxo exec Dr. Bansal-Dev was reported as commenting: "It is the most extensively studied weight-loss drug in the world and proven to help people lose weight and feel better about themselves."